Wordplay

We often return from England with dish soap in our luggage. I wonder if US Customs has a file on me and knows how many gallons of Fairy Liquid I have brought into the country over the years.

John and I think it is more fun to wash the dishes in Fairy Liquid rather than Palmolive. We have given Fairy Liquid as gifts and always enjoy seeing a bottle in a friend’s kitchen.

I also like HobNobs – because they taste good, and have a silly name.

The names of things in England can be just as much fun as names of products. When I get a boo-boo, the injury seems less worrisome when covered in a plaster rather than a band-aid.

The “English” language is one of the reasons it is fascinating for an American to go to England. It is interesting to hear our common language sounding so different.

I enjoyed writing in our blog English-English words and putting in parentheses the American-English (ones). For instance: marquee (tent), SatNav (GPS). Of course I also had fun putting my wheely-bag (luggage on wheels) in the boot (trunk) of our car.

With the exception of SatNav, I didn’t learn any new English-English words during this trip. Visiting with our friends in England (some that I have known for 25 years like Max and Lucy and Janice), I realized it is words we have in common that enable us to stay in touch over great expanses of time and distance. Words like humor, thoughtfulness, generosity, friendship, love.